Chasing Vermeer

I finished the children's novel Chasing Vermeer. Written by Blue Balliett and illustrated by Brett Helquist (who also illustrated the Lemony Snicket books), it is an interesting attempt. The book ties together several strange threads: Charles Fort, Johannes Vermeer, University of Chicago, and pentominoes.

While these topics make for interesting web browsing, they don't quite come together to make a really compelling children's novel. In this book, the first year teacher is ridiculously wonderful, beyond the Miss Sugar of Roald Dahl, in a very constructivist way. The children are brilliant (maybe the real lab school kids are, but do they really compare rooms to Bette Davis movies?) in very 21st ideal-type ways. And everyone's talking about art. The plot is somewhat promising, considering the constraints of the premise. But the denouement is a let down. I also found the epilogue style ending irritating.

Oh well. Have fun clicking on the Fort and pentominoes links.